.45 cal vaquero

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 5:56 pm

I know this is not a levergun question, but I just purchased a stainless steel .45 cal New Vaquero six shooter from ruger and It looks tough enough to handle more then soft cowboy loads. What would be the limit on this gun as far as (high energy ammo) if only fired in this revolver for self-defense etc.

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:02 pm

The New Vaquero has a smaller cylinder frame - the same size as the original Ruger .357 Flat Top & Colt SAA - which cannot safely take the same loads that the larger-framed Vaquero and/or Blackhawk can/do.

Ruger recommends loads no stronger than those approved for the SAA - which are plenty strong enough for personal defense.

.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:06 pm

Tennessee Hayre wrote:I know this is not a levergun question, but I just purchased a stainless steel .45 cal New Vaquero six shooter from ruger and It looks tough enough to handle more then soft cowboy loads. What would be the limit on this gun as far as (high energy ammo) if only fired in this revolver for self-defense etc.

The New Vaquero is a Colt sized gun. They don't have the metal in the frame and cylinder the full sized Vaqueros do, so they can't handle the heavy +P loads. BUT - they are not fragile or week by any means.
Consider them to be capable of handling any of the upper end normal Colt loads. Now, those loads will commonly crank out about 20K PSI. No big deal. Every revolver or model of revolver that has been made since the early 1900s has been chambered for the .45 ACP or had an axillary cylinder for one. If the gun will handle the pressures of a .45 ACP ( 21K PSI ) So will the .45 Colt cylinder.

So although I wouldn't feed one a steady diet of these upper end loads I wouldn't worry about them either.

Joe

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:56 pm

That gun will handle heavier loads than what you want to shoot much of out of it

There's precious little difference in outside cylinder wall thickness between my New Vaquero, and my worn out ol blackhawk.
The nv will handle loads that'll make a 255 hop out the end of the barrel with its hair on fire at about 1000 fps and thats a plenty anyways. Need more speed out of the bullet shoulda brought a rifle.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 6:59 pm

Thanks guy's. I have been using the 225 grain silver tips in my Uberti Colt 45 clone so I guess I'll just keep using that same ammo for the Vaquero. The silver tip is a round to be reckened with I think.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:32 pm

Tennessee Hayre wrote:Thanks guy's. I have been using the 225 grain silver tips in my Uberti Colt 45 clone so I guess I'll just keep using that same ammo for the Vaquero. The silver tip is a round to be reckened with I think.

I've shot a lot of those myself. Nice, mild, accurate load.

Joe

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Fri Jan 30, 2009 10:46 pm

Several months ago, I posted a picture of the NV that a friend of mine blew up. If you remember the story, the guy loaded by accident double red-line and it held together for the first 2 rounds. Unfortunately, the ruger did come apart not due to the gun but the nut behind it. For it to hold together as long as it did is still a triumph for the weapon in my opinion. That doesn't mean that its OK to load up to the max though.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 1:56 am

I use CCI Blazer 200gr JHP ammo in my 4 5/8 New Vaq for CCW carry.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:45 am

I need some edumacation "What is double red line"?

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:20 pm

This is my new found love. I have been holding it all day now that I have put the new grips on it.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 3:29 pm

That's a fine looking six-shooter! Certainly deserved of some fondling.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 4:25 pm

Got that right!!!!!!!

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 7:38 pm

Nice wheelgun

!Who made the grips?

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:04 pm

I got them on e bay from Sidney L. Ryan. He also has a store on Auctiva.com.

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:36 pm

Nice workmanship! Would like to find White Micarta grips for my Blued Coloredcased 4 5/8 New Vaq

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:15 pm

Check out Sids site. He has at least 100 + grips to pick from. He makes all of his products I believe.But keep in mind everything is plastic. Looks and feels real though. his site address is...( www.auctiva.com/viewstore2.aspx?... )

Jaguarundi · Post by **Jaguarundi** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:34 pm

Neat.http://sidryan2.com/he does engraving also

.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sat Jan 31, 2009 10:58 pm

Ya, and he has a good rep on getting the job done as well. I got his name from the local gun store where I purchased the revolver. I got my grips in only 3 days. I plan to order another set for my satin stainless super blackhawk .44 mag . I just love his work.

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:26 pm

Tennessee Hayre wrote:I need some edumacation "What is double red line"?

Sorry I hadn't got back to you sooner but double re-line is when your loading twice the safe maximum of a particular powder for a particular caliber. For instance, in this one, the friend told me that he thought he was loading 11grns of a particular powder but instead loaded 21 grns. I think it was Unique but I am not sure.

Here is what it did.

The rest of it was never found. I still have this weapon as it could not be repaired and I hang it over the reloading bench sort of as a reminder and a conversation peice.

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:29 pm

Dang""" Hey maybe you could sell that revolver to one of those "gun buy back programs"

JustaJeepGuy · Post by **JustaJeepGuy** » Sun Feb 01, 2009 9:59 pm

Even the base pin was lost? Makes me glad all my loading mistakes have been no-powder-charge mistakes!

Buck Elliott · Post by **Buck Elliott** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:00 pm

Don McDowell wrote:That gun will handle heavier loads than what you want to shoot much of out of it There's precious little difference in outside cylinder wall thickness between my New Vaquero, and my worn out ol blackhawk.
The nv will handle loads that'll make a 255 hop out the end of the barrel with its hair on fire at about 1000 fps and thats a plenty anyways. Need more speed out of the bullet shoulda brought a rifle.

It ain't the OUTSIDE walls you have to be careful of, but the thickness of the metal BETWEEN the chambers... THAT is where the stretch begins, and where the failure starts.

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 3:57 pm

I'm gonna stick my snoot in here one more time. Here is a couple pictures of the size difference between the .45 Colt cylinders from my Ruger Blackhawk and my Uberti Cattleman. The Uberti Cattleman is the same size as the New Vaquero.

Uberti_Ruger cylinders.JPG

Uberti _Ruger cylinders 2.JPG

As you can see in these so-so pics there is a considerable size difference between both the length, diameter and thickness of these two cylinders.
A 1000 fps is a heavy top end .45 Colt load for Colt sized revolvers. I don't think it prudent to push them harder.

Joe

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:03 pm

I purchased a box of .45 Cal ammo from Buffalo Bore the 255 grain for self-defense only, so is that a problem in your mind for the New Ruger Vaquero.

Don McDowell · Post by **Don McDowell** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:49 pm

Never paid any attention to the Buffalo Bore ammo,as I can reload alot of ammo for what one box of the stuff costs.
For 130 years the 250-255 gr loads offered by the factory (not the CAS stuff) have kept the grand old cartridge humming along, and have been praised against critters big and small.

bee-weg · Post by **bee-weg** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:01 pm

If those Buffalo Bore are the Standard Pressure 255 gr at 1000 fps, they should be just fine. I have shot those out of my NV. On the website, it says any post-war 45 colt firearm that is in good working condition can handle that load.

TX Gun Runner · Post by **TX Gun Runner** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:31 pm

The new vaquero is design for STANDARD 45lc loads NOT any +P or ruger only loads . The cylinders in pic are Vaquero's not the NV . The 44-40 and 45lc at web are the same size and the gun blows up at the cyl lock cutout which is the weak point of a 6 shot , in 5 shot the cutout moved between the cyl and handle higher psi .. The NV is thinner yet then the one in pic so don't roll the dice with them ...

Tennessee Hayre · Post by **Tennessee Hayre** » Tue Feb 10, 2009 6:34 pm

I will probley shoot the easy stuff in the Uberti, and load alittle hot with the Ruger. Its good to have the heavy stuff on hand to load for self-defense. I would never use +P in either of them.

.45 cal vaquero

.45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero

Re: .45 cal vaquero